Given their remarkable recent run of form, AC Milan have become one of the most interesting sides in Europe to analyse in terms of how they have achieved such a turnaround.
As our recent stats piece outlined, Milan extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 21 games with Thursday’s 3-1 win over Celtic. They have not been beaten since the 0-0 draw with Juventus back in June’s Coppa Italia semi-final.
The Rossoneri have scored at least two goals in 19 out of those 21 matches, and have had 10 different scorers in their first eight games this season, the most of any Italian side.
So just how Milan proving to be so effective regardless of the opposition and despite the selection issues that Pioli has had to battle? The incredible SRFootball has provided a thread below of Milan’s tactical set-up including their play in transition…
Let's talk about their rotations first. Milan's forwards are very talented in pulling their man in and moving them to create space. They're in tune with each other and notice the cues well that indicate the start of a rotation. pic.twitter.com/wDOLotv97v
— SRFootball (@SRFootball_) October 21, 2020
As another example of something similar, watch Saelemaekers make a horizontal inverted run here that creates the space for the overlap. pic.twitter.com/5bF6BKwnsw
— SRFootball (@SRFootball_) October 21, 2020
(Not a GIF 😔) Milan's support structure is heavily based on maintaining passing triangles and players use the ball as a reference point for their positioning. pic.twitter.com/yk9k6TRCFe
— SRFootball (@SRFootball_) October 21, 2020
The front 4's ability to anticipate the turnover is critical here – notice them start moving as a unit as soon as the transition phase begins. pic.twitter.com/BM0nkz7xUm
— SRFootball (@SRFootball_) October 21, 2020
3 at the back is not uncommon in Italy. This GIF shows how adept and intelligent Milan are when attacking an isolated 3. @TheCynicWolf recently pointed out how our 1-2 midfield structure leaves Brown with a lot of horizontal ground to cover which makes us vulnerable to this. pic.twitter.com/mmvmuOE24N
— SRFootball (@SRFootball_) October 21, 2020
Firstly, even in games where Milan are more disciplined and wary of the opposition (this can be seen by their FBs being deeper), they press as high as the opposition box. This image shows their most likely defensive line and line of engagement. pic.twitter.com/flK2xXKO6D
— SRFootball (@SRFootball_) October 21, 2020
This GIF shows how quickly and efficiently Milan close options and move in when their pressing trap is triggered. pic.twitter.com/iAfxwarPaj
— SRFootball (@SRFootball_) October 21, 2020
Kris Ajer is our best chance of playing through a press and moving out of our defensive third. He needs to be wary however as Milan are good at drawing a CB out into a pressing trap. pic.twitter.com/e5VRRL7dm0
— SRFootball (@SRFootball_) October 21, 2020
Here is another example of a ball carrying CB overcoming Milan's press. pic.twitter.com/n7f7mfJAA0
— SRFootball (@SRFootball_) October 21, 2020
Despite Milan being compact in the centre, there is space to be found. Here, Inter's forwards drop off the CBs who don't follow which allows them to overload Kessie within Milan's tight structure. The critical aspect of this build up is quick one touch passing and a layoff. pic.twitter.com/16DhaffHnF
— SRFootball (@SRFootball_) October 21, 2020
This last GIF shows how this can be exploited. pic.twitter.com/liDLSrii10
— SRFootball (@SRFootball_) October 21, 2020